OD death of promising young woman tarnishes Boston House of Blues

Friday

Aug 30, 2013 at 6:00 AM

The family of Brittany Flannigan remained behind closed doors in Derry, N.H., Thusday as they mourned the loss of the 19-year-old college student who fatally overdosed while at the House of Blues in Boston early Wednesday morning.

A family friend said the family, which includes two sisters, was too overwhelmed with grief to talk about the Plymouth State University student and the circumstances of her sudden death.

"They're totally devastated by all this and won't be making any sort of statement at the moment," said the family friend.

The woman said the family has spoken with investigators, and anticipates hearing from them later today or Friday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete because the Massachusetts state medical examiner's office has not yet released her body to them.

Meanwhile, Jay Anderson, a spokesman for the popular Boston nightspot next to Fenway Park, said the House of Blues will reopen tonight. The club did not open Wednesday night, hours after Flannigan and two other people overdosed there shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Officials at the Boston Licensing Board indicated Wednesday that they would hold a hearing on the management of the House of Blues sometime next week. Anderson said he couldn't confirm the hearing.

Several cars were parked this morning on the long driveway leading to the two-level home where Flannigan grew up. Next-door neighbor Joshua Proctor said that on Wednesday night there was a constant flow of visitors to the house.

The neighborhood is thickly wooded with expansive yards surrounding most residences.

"She's always been a great kid, I've seen her go to school throughout her life," said Proctor, 34.

"She mostly stayed in, went to after-school activities with her friends. I wasn't even aware that she was the type of kid who even went to clubs. She never had parties or anything like that.''

He added, "This is an absolute shock.''

Holding his palm downward about two feet above his front porch, Proctor said: "This is an absolute shock. I've known her since she was that high.''

Flannigan was a 2012 graduate of Pinkerton Academy, which serves as the high school for Derry and other communities. In a statement, Pinkerton Headmaster Mary A. Anderson called Flannigan's death "heartbreaking.''

"Following graduation 14 short months ago, this popular, academically solid student pursued a degree at Plymouth State University,'' Anderson said in the statement. "Her untimely death is tragic and heartbreaking."

Anderson added, "It is with great sorrow that I extend my deepest sympathies to Brittany's family and friends. Brittany, you are in the hearts and prayers of the entire Pinkerton community.''

Flannigan was an honor roll student and a member of the JLU Club, which stands for Just Like Us. JLU club members work with disabled people, helping them participate in activities such as sports and cookouts, according to the school.

Robert Merner, commander of the Boston Police Department's drug control unit, told the Globe on Wednesday that it appeared that the victims consumed a drug known as Molly, the street name for the drug MDMA , a pure form of the drug ecstasy.

This afternoon, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley's office said that results of the toxicological testing will not be known for about two weeks. No one is now facing criminal charges in connection with the overdoses, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Flannigan's family wanted privacy.

"Her family has asked us to impress upon the media their strong desire to grieve privately,'' Conley spokesman Jake Wark said in the statement. "They are not interested in speaking to the media at this time.''